See cemeteries in a completely new way through as workshop titled “Conducting African American Cemetery Research,” to be held at the Reynolds Homestead on Saturday, April 21 at 10 a.m.

Facilitated by John Whitfield, and presented by the Virginia Africana Association, the workshop will explain techniques used in identifying enslaved Africans in undisclosed burial plots and locations. He will also show how many of the public records across Virginia, as well as other tools of discovery, can be used to uncover more information about enslaved Africans buried in countless cemeteries across Virginia.

Whitfield recently conducted research for the Reynolds Homestead, identifying more than 30 African Americans who were buried in the Penn-Reynolds cemetery on the property. Using this research as an example, he will provide tools which will allow workshop attendees to discover answers to mysteries about the cemeteries.

“Through these memorial sites, history still lives, waiting to be uncovered,” Whitfield said.

The cost of the all-day workshop is $50 for members of Virginia Africana, and $60 for non-members. The fee includes lunch.

Attendees are asked to register for the workshop by calling Marian Ashton at (301) 520-6796, or Terri Leviner at (276) 694-7181.

The Virginia Africana Association seeks to promote African American history and culture by sharing best practices and development opportunities, advocating for the preservation and protection of African American heritage within the state, and providing network support. The non-profit organization is open to museums, historic sites, cultural organizations, and individuals devoted to Virginia’s African American history and heritage and whose collections are available to the public. More information about the VAA can be found on their Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/vaafricana/.